Stoppard's play delves into the historical, social, and cultural effects of the British Empire. A significant part of the play takes place in India in 1930, a period characterized by social unrest as Indians struggled for independence from British colonial rule. The dialogue frequently centers around two characters, one Indian and one British, discussing India's status as a British colony. For instance, Indian characters refer to the 1847 event as the "First War of Independence," whereas the English characters call it the "Mutiny." Various English characters in the play represent different British viewpoints on Indian politics. Flora, the most open-minded English character, is acutely aware of her position in India as a symbol of British Imperial power. In a letter to her sister, she humorously describes a sightseeing tour with Indian members of the Theosophical Society, stating, "I felt like a carnival float representing Empire—or, depending how you look at it, the Subjugation of the Indian People." David Durance, a British government official in India, along with his fellow members of the Jummapur Cricket Club, exhibit typical imperialist arrogance and contempt for Indians. This is demonstrated in the opening lines of Act II, where a club member, simply called an "Englishman," praises the writer Kipling, known for his racist and pro-imperialist beliefs.

Cultural imperialism refers to the process by which one culture overtakes and dominates another, resulting in the decline of the native culture and the imposition of the dominant culture. During the British colonization of India, the British introduced an English educational system to the Indian population. As a result, educated Indians became more acquainted with English art and literature, often neglecting their own cultural heritage. In several discussions between Flora and Das, Das expresses his admiration for English literature. Flora challenges this view, suggesting that he should embrace his own culture instead of that of the colonizers. In a conversation between Anish and Mrs. Swan, Mrs. Swan compares Britain's colonization of India to the Roman conquest of Britain and the subsequent imposition of Roman culture. Anish disputes this comparison, stating that India was already a highly developed civilization before the arrival of Europeans: "We were the Romans! We were advanced when you were a backward nation. The foreigners who invaded you found a third-world country! Even when you discovered India during the age of Shakespeare, we already had our Shakespeares. And our science—architecture—our literature and art, we had a culture that was older and more magnificent, we were wealthy!" Anish concludes by asserting that Britain's main reason for colonizing India was its wealth: "After all, that’s why you came."

The motivation that drove Indians to seek national independence was deeply embedded in strong "nationalism." This term encompasses pride in Indian culture, history, and identity. In Stoppard's play, Indian characters exhibit different degrees of nationalist pride and defiance against British colonial rule. The Theosophical Society, to which both Flora and Das are members, played a significant role in fostering Indian nationalism by respecting traditional Indian spiritual beliefs. During their discussions, Flora attempts to instill a sense of nationalism in Das. She advises him, "If you don’t start learning to take you’ll never be shot of us. . . . It’s your country and we’ve got it. Everything else is bosh." Eventually, Das engages in a nationalist act of defiance when he is arrested for throwing a mango during an anti-British demonstration.